CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina softball opens the 2021 season Feb. 12-14 traveling to the Stinger Classic hosted by Alabama State in Montgomery, Ala. 

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 AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE CATAMOUNTS:

• Western Carolina returns 15 players from the 2020 team.
• The Catamounts have two sophomore pitchers: Savannah Rice and Jayme Eilers. Rice tossed 38.1 innings and Eilers 27 innings last season. Eilers had 23 strikeouts in seven appearances while Rice had 16 in nine appearances. 
• Junior Bailey Huneycutt is the top returning hitter for the Catamounts. In her 16 games played in the shortened 2020 season, she had a .250 batting average with 11 hits, nine runs scored, two doubles, and a team-leading four home runs. 
• In the 16 games played in 2020, before the season being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team had 80 hits, 20 doubles, and 13 home runs. 
• Western Carolina will face off against Tennessee Tech, host Alabama State and North Alabama at the Stinger Classic. The Catamounts are 0-2 all-time against Tennessee Tech, 3-1 against Alabama State and it will be the first meeting between WCU and North Alabama.
• Western Carolina was picked seventh in the recent Southern Conference preseason coaches' poll.  

QUOTES:

"As with every new season, we are very excited to start playing. This year, however, it's a different kind of excitement. It's an excitement born out of the disappointment of losing a season and relief we will be playing this one. There will always be the drive to win, but I think this year there will be more of a playing for the love of the game."
- Head Coach Jim Clift

 
 AN INSIDE LOOK AT OPPONENTS:

• Host Alabama State was picked to win the SWAC East division. Vanessa Bradford was chosen as SWAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The Hornets placed two more players on the preseason all-conference second team list – third baseman Alexis Massie and DP Kindall DeRamus.
• Tennessee Tech was picked eighth in the OVC preseason poll. Senior outfielder Beth McCulley was chosen as the OVC Player to Watch. Through Tech's first 19 games last season, McCulley posted a .283 average with five RBI. 
• North Alabama was chosen to finish fifth in the ASUN preseason poll. Senior Megan Garst was named ASUN Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Garst ended the shortened season with a 1.32 ERA in 2020. 

 For all the updates on Catamount softball follow @catamounts (Twitter) and recaps please follow go to www.catamountsports.com and for in-game updates please go to @CatamountSB (Twitter).